While the skipper of Team New Zealand is utterly determined to bring the Auld Mug home, a Manawatu family are crossing their fingers that their pet lamb is sign of good fortune to come.
"I think he's cool and that he might win the race for us. He'll help them win because his name's Dean Baakaa," said Heidi Turnbull, 9.
Dean Baakaa was born the day the series started. He was meant to be called Milky but in the excitement of both the lamb's arrival and the regatta, Heidi's mother, Karen Hurley, decided a play on the name of the Team NZ skipper Dean Barker might be more appropriate.
Ms Hurley said conveniently she also "lost the paperwork" for the name Milky.
But Heidi thought it worked out for the best anyway.